[Gasification] rantings

[Roger Samson]

Toby

It depends on the data you use and where you live. In Ontario, our analysis
was corn ethanol had a net energy gain of 21 GJ/ha and Switchgrass
pellets/ha is 163 GJ/ha. 

http://www.reap-canada.com/online_library/Reports%20and%20Newsletters/Bioene
rgy/14%20The%20Use.PDF

Corn production alone has a net energy gain of 98 Gj/ha in Ontario. In terms
of achieving energy security, direction combustion of corn is about 5 times
more efficient and switchgrass pellets 8 times more efficient than corn
ethanol in producing a useful energy product. When burned in a gasifier
stove or boiler at 85% efficiency, one GJ of corn or switchgrass pellets
replaces 1 GJ of a high grade fuel like natural gas or heating oil in a heat
related energy application. 


Roger Samson




  

-----Original Message-----
From: gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org
[mailto:gasification-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Toby Seiler
Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2006 11:51 AM
To: gasification at listserv.repp.org
Subject: [Gasification] rantings

Man is a disease upon the earths surface.  Since growth (of human
population) continues, so does the impact upon the earth.  For
example...Indiana was 95% covered with old growth hardwood forest before the
white man.  In 1920 only 15% of the total acres were in forest and about 19%
is now forested.  Some marginal lands have reverted back into forest. 
   
  The point here is that we have had a failure to plan.  We are not a secure
nation when we so deplete a resource on land that now will grow corn and
soybeans for liquid fuel at high cost per Btu (as a measure of heat).  If
land were planted in forest (Osage orange or other high heat value tree) and
harvested for solid fuel per a rotation schedule (10 year or so)...would we
not solve some erosion problems, provide a carbon sink for our air and
recover 10 times the Btu over ethanol.  Could fire control be integrated
into large scale harvesting for energy biomass? 
   
  Peter,  I agree with you that our direction appears headed for a train
wreck.  Our investment of $300 billion in Iraq would have developed a lot of
alternative energy that could reduce our dependency.  I hope this
gasification list has entrepreneurs as well as techies because our govenment
seems to be failing to invest in long term solid fuel alternatives.  
   
  What is the heat value from burning an acre of corn in a furnace as
compared to making alcohol? 
   
  Toby J. Seiler

 		
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